Religious accommodation: A new front in Quebec's sovereignty battle?

Quebec stands on the verge of an explosive debate about multiculturalism. And its sparks could be enough to reignite a seemingly moribund sovereigntist movement.

The denunciation of multiculturalism by some within the sovereignty movement represents a political expression of Quebec's secular identity. Quebec sees secularism as tied to its distinct identity – a marked difference from the Canadian understanding of religious accommodation. The Parti Québécois, for example, has called for amendments to the province's human rights charter that would place limitations on certain fundamental rights by giving priority to the secular nature of Quebec society.

How did secularism and multiculturalism emerge as important issues in Quebec?